Elements for extending an ironing board

ABSTRACT

Element ( 1 ) for extending the ironing surface (S) of an ironing board (A) of the type comprising an ironing plane (P), the upper surface of which comprises the ironing surface (S), arranged resting upon a support structure (T) standing on the floor. The extension element ( 1 ) comprises a structural element ( 2 ) in which a support plane ( 3 ) suitable for extending the ironing surface (S) is defined and provided, on the opposite side of said support plane ( 3 ), with guide tracks ( 4 ) that slidably couple in the edges ( 5 ) of the ironing plane (P).

The present invention concerns an element for extending the ironing surface particularly suitable for being applied to a home ironing board.

It is known that on the market there are home ironing boards all characterised by having a support structure arranged resting on the floor and on which an ironing plane rests.

Known ironing boards all have ironing planes of predetermined size at least as far as the ironing surface is concerned.

The latter, in particular, has a first substantially rectangular-shaped area at one end of which there is a second area having the lateral edges converging towards a generally rounded end.

Known ironing boards all have recognised drawbacks. In particular, a first of such drawbacks consists of the fact that, whilst they are available in various sizes, they are in any case of limited dimensions both in width and in length.

This constitutes a disadvantage when one has to iron large items such as tablecloths or sheets.

A further drawback of known ironing boards is represented by the second area with a narrow end, which, by its low-width configuration, accentuates the limitation in length in use of the ironing board.

Such a second area, indeed, constitutes a sort of rounded point that is awkward when large items have to be ironed.

The purpose of the present invention is to overcome the quoted drawbacks of ironing boards belonging to the prior art.

In particular, a first purpose of the present invention is to make an element for extending the ironing surface of the ironing board that, indeed, allows the ironing surface of the ironing board to be extended in length with respect to ironing boards of the prior art.

A further purpose of the present invention is to make an element for extending the ironing surface of an ironing board that allows the limitations generated by the narrow end of the second area to be overcome.

The last but not least purpose of the invention is to make an element for extending the ironing surface for ironing boards that can be applied to and removed from the ironing boards currently on the market according to the user's requirements.

Said purposes are accomplished by an element for extending the ironing surface for ironing boards according to what is outlined in the main claim to which we refer for the sake of brevity; the further dependent claims contain detailed characteristics of the invention.

Advantageously, since the extension element consists just of a structural element provided with an ironing plane and with guide tracks to associate it with the ironing plane of the board, it is particularly simple to make.

Again advantageously, since such guide tracks can be configured so that they are able to receive the edges of any type of ironing board, it is particularly suitable for being applied to all ironing boards currently on the market.

In particular, with regard to this, since the tracks define axes of longitudinal extension that converge, the angle of convergence of such axes can be foreseen so that it is able to receive any type of second area of the ironing boards on the market.

Again advantageously, since the coupling between the extension element and the ironing board occurs by sliding inside the tracks quoted previously, such a coupling is easily removable according to the user's requirements.

Moreover, advantageously, the structural element can have characteristics of solidity such that it allows the overall length of the ironing plane available for ironing to be extended by a significant length.

These and other advantages that shall be made clearer hereafter shall be outlined during the description of preferred embodiments given for indicating and not limiting purposes, with reference to the following tables of drawings, where:

FIG. 1 represents an ironing board comprising the extension element object of the invention in an exploded axonometric view;

FIG. 2 represents the extension element of the invention in an axonometric view;

FIG. 3 represents a detail of the operative step of the extension element of the invention.

The element 1 for extending the ironing surface S of an ironing board A is represented in FIG. 1 where it can be seen that it can be applied to an ironing plane P, the upper surface of which comprises the ironing surface S, arranged resting upon a support structure T standing on the floor.

According to the invention, the extension element 1 comprises a structural element 2 in which a support plane 3 is defined, which acts to extend the ironing surface S, and which is provided, on the side opposite the support plane 3, with guide tracks 4 that slidably couple in the edges 5 of the ironing plane P.

According to the preferred embodiment that is described, the pair of tracks 4, as can be seen in FIG. 2, each consist of a substantially laminar element 6 the cross section of which is substantially C-shaped.

As far as the lateral edges 5 of the ironing plane P of the ironing board A are concerned, as stated previously they have, at an end 8 of the ironing plane P itself, axes of longitudinal extension X, Y that converge towards a generally rounded end 9.

In accordance with such a shape, the guide tracks 4 of the extension element 1 define axes of longitudinal extension X′ and Y′ that converge and, in particular, in the point of convergence they define an angle α′ that is at least equal to the largest of the angles of convergence α defined by the axes of longitudinal extension X, Y of the known ironing boards.

As far as the support plane 3 is concerned, it is substantially rectangular shaped.

However, this does not constitute a limitation for further embodiment of the invention in which the shape is different to rectangular in order to be able to satisfy particular requirements of the users.

Nevertheless, the width of the support plane 3 is substantially equal to the width of the ironing plane P so as to allow a perfect coupling between the two avoiding the formation of particular sharp edges within the resulting overall ironing surface 10.

Operatively, the user takes care of removing from the ironing board A the elements that are usually laid on top of the ironing surface S to make it particularly soft and suitable for the ironing of items of clothing that are laid upon it.

Then the user rests the extension element 1 on the narrow end 8 of the ironing board A so that the support plane 3 faces upwards and the guide tracks 4 face downwards.

Thereafter, the user pushes the extension element 1 towards the ironing plane P making it slide over it so that the guide tracks 4 receive the lateral edges 5 of the ironing plane P itself, carrying out the desired coupling that can be seen in FIG. 3.

Obviously, the C-shape of the cross section of the guide tracks 4 has dimensions such as to be able to receive the thickness of any ironing plane P of the ironing boards A on the market.

Thereafter, the user takes care of arranging the covering elements E on top of the overall ironing surface 10 so as to give perfect homogeneity and particular softness that make it easier to iron.

When the user no longer needs the extension element 1 or when he has to put the ironing board A away again, it he can take the covering elements E off again and withdraw the extension element 1.

Due to what has been stated, the element for extending the ironing surface of ironing boards achieves all of the set purposes.

In particular, it achieves the purpose of making an element for extending the ironing surface of an ironing board that allows such ironing surface to be extended in length with respect to ironing boards of the prior art.

It also achieves the purpose of making an element for extending the ironing surface of an ironing board that allows the limitations generated by the narrow end of the second area of the ironing plane to be overcome. Moreover, it also achieves the purpose of making an element for extending the ironing surface for ironing boards that can be applied to and removed from the ironing boards currently on the market according to the user's requirements.

When it is carried out, further modifications or variant embodiments can be made to the extension element object of the invention.

Even if these are not represented or described, if they are covered by the content of the following claims they should be considered protected by the present patent. 

1. Element (1) for extending the ironing surface (S) of an ironing board (A) of the type comprising an ironing plane (P), the upper surface of which comprises at least said ironing surface (S), arranged resting upon a support structure (T) standing on the floor, characterised in that it comprises a structural element (2) in which a support plane (3) suitable for extending said ironing surface (S) is defined and provided, on the opposite side of said support plane (3), with guide tracks (4) that slidably couple in the edges (5) of said ironing plane (P).
 2. Extension element (1) according to claim 1, characterised in that said pair of guide tracks (4) each consist of a substantially laminar element (6) the cross section of which is substantially C-shaped.
 3. Extension element (1) according to claim 1, characterised in that the lateral edges (5) of said ironing plane (P) define, at an end (8) of said ironing plane (P), converging axes of longitudinal extension (X, Y).
 4. Extension element (1) according to claim 3, characterised in that said guide tracks (4) of said extension element (1) define converging axes of longitudinal extension (X′, Y′).
 5. Extension element (1) according to claim 4, characterised in that the angle of convergence (α′) defined by said guide tracks (4) is at least equal to the angle of convergence (α) defined by said lateral edges (5) of said ironing plane (P).
 6. Extension element (1) according to claim 1, characterised in that said support plane (3) is substantially rectangular shaped.
 7. Extension element (1) according to claim 1, characterised in that the width of said support plane (3) is substantially equal to the width of said ironing plane (P). 